Published: 12-04-08
Statement from Texas Motor Transportation Association President On the Strength of the Texas Economy
AUSTIN – Texas Motor Transportation Association President & CEO John D. Esparza commented yesterday on Gov. Rick Perry’s third economic meeting on the state of Texas industry.
“Texas has positioned itself to maintain a successful and growing economy” said Esparza. “Transportation is now and will continue to play an active role in that success. With the valuable leadership of Gov. Perry joined with the efforts of the motor carrier industry and other industries Texas is in the best situation possible to remain economically stable.”
At the economic meeting TMTA joined other industries such as the Texas Automobile Dealers Association National Federation of Independent Business-Texas Texas Association of Builders Texas Restaurant Association and the Texas Retailers Association.
Texas trucks transport more than 3.2 million tons of manufactured goods per day and though freight is slowing it is still growing. With that in mind it is understandable that 110000 additional drivers will be needed by 2014 to meet the increase of freight.
In Texas alone there is a shortage of 5000 professional truck drivers.
Today the trucking industry provides one out of every 14 jobs in the state with an average annual salary of more than $47000.
“I encourage those Texans looking for employment to consider the trucking industry” commented Esparza.
“I am confident our state will enjoy a business friendly environment that will positively affect the trucking industry. But we will also work hard to find solutions during the upcoming legislative session to economic issues that adversely affect our industry such as the margins tax.”
To assist in safeguarding Texas against the unstable economic situation facing many other states TMTA has launched a new Web site designed to connect job seekers with employers in the trucking industry. This resource www.texastruckjobs.com will function as a clearinghouse for employment opportunities. All registration and advertising fees have been waived until January 1 to give employers and job seekers a chance to visit the site free of charge.
TMTA is a trade organization dedicated to advocating sound public policies providing excellence in education and training and promoting a safe dependable and cost-effective motor transportation system to better serve the people of Texas.
One out of every 14 people working in the private sector is employed in a trucking-related job. Eighty-two percent of Texas communities receive their goods exclusively by truck.
